For a lot of young people, cannabis feels harmless. It’s everywhere. It’s often seen as more relaxed, more natural, less risky than other drugs. But what starts as casual use can slowly become something much harder to walk away from.
As developing laws in Australia are introducing legal and accessible medical marijuana young people can be misled into thinking that this automatically means it is risk free. It is important to remember that alcohol is legal too, and it still causes enormous harm to those who experience addiction. Just like alcohol, cannabis can be addictive for some people, especially those who start young or use regularly which is something to keep in mind when reflecting on individuals’ usage.
What does cannabis addiction actually look like?
Cannabis addiction doesn’t always come with chaos and while not everyone who uses cannabis will develop and addiction it is important to recognise how easily usage can escalate, often without someone realising the full impact on their life until much later.
Here are some of the common signs:
1. Needing it to feel normal
Cannabis isn’t just a sometimes thing, it’s part of everyday life. Smoking first thing in the morning, using before school or work, relying on it to sleep. Not using feels uncomfortable and sometimes impossible.
2. Planning life around getting high
Young people start avoiding situations where they can’t use. Their social life, work habits and relationships start revolving around when and where they can smoke. This can often time be subconscious and infiltrate your life and decisions without realising or with alternative justifications.
3. Changes in mood and motivation
Regular use affects mental clarity, energy and emotional stability. Some feel anxious or paranoid, others become flat or disconnected.
4. Using to cope
A lot of young people use cannabis to deal with anxiety, trauma, loneliness or boredom. But over time, it becomes the only coping mechanism. Real support gets put off, and the root problems stay buried.
5. Struggling to stop
Many young people try to cut back but keep falling into the same patterns. That feeling of “I’ll stop next week” becomes constant. They may feel stuck, ashamed or frustrated.
Recognising these patterns doesn’t automatically make them easier to change. Cannabis addiction often develops gradually, and by the time someone realises it’s become a problem, it can feel overwhelming to address alone. The good news is that with the right support, young people can develop healthier ways to cope and regain control over their choices.
What helps?
Programs like Triple Care Farm offer a full wraparound approach: mental health support, life skills, routine, education and connection. It give’s young people real tools, not just to stop using, but to understand why they were using in the first place.
There are also various organisations, resources or support spaces that can explain this topic more or act as the first step in a young persons recovery journey. Some of these are listed here.
If you’re worried about a young person in your life, start the conversation early. Don’t wait for things to spiral. Ask how they’re going, not just whether they’re using, but how they’re coping more generally.
And if you’re a young person reading this and wondering if cannabis has become a problem for you, it potentially has. That’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s something you can get help with and begin to take the steps towards recovery.
